When I drive my car, I find the most irritating thing to be tailgaters. I understand that if i am on an interstate highway with multiple lanes that slower traffic should keep to the right and I always do in that instance. Over the past couple of weeks, when traveling on a two lane road with a posted limit of 45 mph, I have been tailgated twice by two extremely hostile drivers. I always use great care in keeping at the limit on this particular road because it is also a major bike lane for over 20 miles. I often ride my bike in those same lanes. Yesterday, this fellow rode my bumber for ten miles and then chose to pass me in a no passing area simply because I was driving the posted limit. The first time this happened to me both the driver and I came to a stop next to each other at a traffic light. He rolled down his window and yelled something. I never even looked over there and pretended as if I had not heard him. The guy yesterday must have gotten up to 60 after he passed me. There appears to be much rage on the roads which I have encountered both driving and cycling. I would advise you all to avoid confrontation with people if you can help it. It's not worth getting hurt or worse.

Yeah, had an idiot pass me yesterday after my bike ride, while I was driving home...

He chose to do it on the shoulder of the off ramp. Talk about tight squeeze. Just goes to show that there are some real nut cases out there.

You should have moved further out into the lane and stuck out your arm in a slow/stop signal.

Oh, wait. Sorry. That only works for alpha dogs riding their bicycles.

I have found that people tailgate through inattention rather than bad manners. If I motion with my right hand for them to move back, they usually do. There is nothing you can do about offensive drivers.

I find that this can be even more irritating at lower-speed (10-20 mph), when dealing with a timid motorist that is too afraid to pass.

I come across these too many times - no matter how many times you signal for them to pass, they still stick behind you, same as a little dog might follow one home. Drives me nuts.

-Kurt

You should have moved further out into the lane and stuck out your arm in a slow/stop signal.

Oh, wait. Sorry. That only works for alpha dogs riding their bicycles.


LOL :roflmao:

My method of dealing with such people is acting 'dumb.' I find that my vehicle, a 1993 Ford Tempo, is just about the perfect car for doing the 'old man in a hat' routine. (Even better that it is a manual shift so can react more swiftly than people expect :) ) When I get tailgated, I go exactly 2 km/h below the posted speed limit and drift up to traffic lights. I have all the traffic signals around my house pretty much timed so I know exactly when to drift and when someone roars past me in a huff I thoroughly enjoy passing them by at the next intersection.

I also have a tendency to use the car to slow traffic down for cyclists especially where lanes are a bit narrow. I figure we all have to look out for each other even when we are being temporary 'cagers'.

LOL :roflmao:

My method of dealing with such people is acting 'dumb.' I find that my vehicle, a 1993 Ford Tempo, is just about the perfect car for doing the 'old man in a hat' routine. (Even better that it is a manual shift so can react more swiftly than people expect :) ) When I get tailgated, I go exactly 2 km/h below the posted speed limit and drift up to traffic lights. I have all the traffic signals around my house pretty much timed so I know exactly when to drift and when someone roars past me in a huff I thoroughly enjoy passing them by at the next intersection.

I also have a tendency to use the car to slow traffic down for cyclists especially where lanes are a bit narrow. I figure we all have to look out for each other even when we are being temporary 'cagers'.
+1!

LOL :roflmao:

My method of dealing with such people is acting 'dumb.' I find that my vehicle, a 1993 Ford Tempo, is just about the perfect car for doing the 'old man in a hat' routine. (Even better that it is a manual shift so can react more swiftly than people expect :) ) When I get tailgated, I go exactly 2 km/h below the posted speed limit and drift up to traffic lights. I have all the traffic signals around my house pretty much timed so I know exactly when to drift and when someone roars past me in a huff I thoroughly enjoy passing them by at the next intersection.

I also have a tendency to use the car to slow traffic down for cyclists especially where lanes are a bit narrow. I figure we all have to look out for each other even when we are being temporary 'cagers'.
Yeah, you go! I drive a Lumina van from 94 and play "Grampa" in a brown fedora as well! http://forum.gamestar.de/gspinboard/images/smilies/muhaha.gif

1997 Grandma Brown Toyota Corollas with the icky combo of a 3 spd automatic and the 1.6l engine work wonders for this too. Now WHY I ask you, would you marry the auto to the little engine and RUIN AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY ADEQUATE IF BORING AS DRY TOAST CAR!!?!?! But I digress.....

I have a 2003 boring brown Toyota Corolla...it slows to one mile per hour below the limit as needed...

LOL :roflmao:

My method of dealing with such people is acting 'dumb.' I find that my vehicle, a 1993 Ford Tempo, is just about the perfect car for doing the 'old man in a hat' routine. (Even better that it is a manual shift so can react more swiftly than people expect :) ) When I get tailgated, I go exactly 2 km/h below the posted speed limit and drift up to traffic lights. I have all the traffic signals around my house pretty much timed so I know exactly when to drift and when someone roars past me in a huff I thoroughly enjoy passing them by at the next intersection.

I also have a tendency to use the car to slow traffic down for cyclists especially where lanes are a bit narrow. I figure we all have to look out for each other even when we are being temporary 'cagers'.

When I first got my crown victoria, I never had a problem with tailgaters. I have no idea why that was the case. I guess everyone just knew I was a nice guy. ;)

When I first got my crown victoria, I never had a problem with tailgaters. I have no idea why that was the case. I guess everyone just knew I was a nice guy. ;)


Wierd thing about the Tempo is the very sight of that car on the road deeply offends a lot of drivers especially the BMW and the SUV crowd and they feel an instant need to brush it out of the way. I have been subjected to more general insanity behind the wheel of the "Red Menace" than I have ever had on the bike. Go figure!

Been thinking about having a bumper sticker made up:
'It's simple. The closer you get, the slower I go.'

^^^ I have one just like that on my powder blue soccer mom mini van. Very effective on 98% of the people. The other 2% have no clue why my van suddenly becomes their new hood ornament. :D

I have a big blue Dodge Ram that I use for pulling my camper, and hauling around my junk. (I do metal salvage on the side). Nothing like a large piece of (seemingly) unstable metal, leaning rearward, to discourage tailgaters!!

I think the two extremes of drivers cause the most frustration. You have those that need to go 90mph no matter what the traffic conditions are and you have the other camp that will sit in the left lane talking on their cell phone going 10mph below the limit with a 5 mile gap in front of them. Both types of drivers drive me nuts. Down here in S FL I think that accounts for about 85% of the drivers.

I think the two extremes of drivers cause the most frustration. You have those that need to go 90mph no matter what the traffic conditions are and you have the other camp that will sit in the left lane talking on their cell phone going 10mph below the limit with a 5 mile gap in front of them. Both types of drivers drive me nuts. Down here in S FL I think that accounts for about 85% of the drivers.

South Fla drivers are the worst. My favorites are the ones that adhere to the "only one speed limit, 50 mph". Its a simple, easy to remember rule of the road and they apply it everywhere. So they go 50 mph in the left hand lane of a freeway where the average traffic speed is approaching 80 mph in all lanes, and they also go 50 mph in the parking lot of the mega mall. Consistent.

Wierd thing about the Tempo is the very sight of that car on the road deeply offends a lot of drivers especially the BMW and the SUV crowd and they feel an instant need to brush it out of the way. I have been subjected to more general insanity behind the wheel of the "Red Menace" than I have ever had on the bike. Go figure!

I had just the opposite effect. My car has the older body style, but when it was new, the car looked like a CT state trooper's car(In CT, the state cops use factory body paint). I'd ride under the speed limit, and create a traffic jam because noone would pass me. If I was in the left lane, cars would flee to the right lane as if they were pulled by a tractor beam. I'd be on my commute home, and the car in front of me would slow down to 20 mph in front of the elementary school(in August!). The funny thing was that my car had alloy wheels, velour seats, pinstriping, a keypad, and a trailer hitch--not exactly the kind of things you find on a cop car.

I had just the opposite effect. My car has the older body style, but when it was new, the car looked like a CT state trooper's car(In CT, the state cops use factory body paint). I'd ride under the speed limit, and create a traffic jam because noone would pass me. If I was in the left lane, cars would flee to the right lane as if they were pulled by a tractor beam. I'd be on my commute home, and the car in front of me would slow down to 20 mph in front of the elementary school(in August!). The funny thing was that my car had alloy wheels, velour seats, pinstriping, a keypad, and a trailer hitch--not exactly the kind of things you find on a cop car.

The shape... its like when I think I am going to be passed by a semi I hear it ripping through the wind and the turbo diesel and it turns out to be a guy compensating the vic's arround here are used to pull silly things such as speed signs telling you what your current speed is

(maybe off topic same principal)

Best way to deal with them rig a push button to turn work your break lights. ome one gets on your rear like that press the button. Break test with out the danger of being hit :)

Friend did that to some bozo on the highway tailgating in the normal trafic lane instead of passing no other cars for miles so he hits the button at 55 mph next thing you hear is screeeeeeeeeeeeeeechhhhhhhh and see the guy come to a dead stop. after that the guy stayed way way back like a full mile behind us.

This was on i76 about omg 12 years ago maybe 13. We never could figure out what the guy was doing but we were getting just a little worried about what he might be doing. Our direction was empty most every one was going to work so were all heading in the other direction.

We kind of thought maybe the guy was going to wait till he had a chance and run us off the road or something. Esp when we heard on the news some one was car jacked on a exit ramp about 4 hours later in the day. Back then you didnt hear alot about car jackings 1 or 2 a year.

You realy just never know about people.

I have the perfect antidote to stupid drivers .... Beat up old '79 Blazer. 4x4, lifted, big tires, dents, rust, spray can paint job, no grill and the hood doesn't close right.

Even when someone DOES do something stupid around me, when they actually look at my truck and notice, they back off right away and give me LOTS of room.

Not to mention that if I'm up close to someone, all they see in their rearview mirror is my radiator (No grill, remember?)

So yeah... nobody really messes with me when I'm driving.

Oh... and a tiny bit of pressure on the brakes is enough to light up your brake lights without actually slowing you down appreciably. (Yeah, I've done that, too.... Then the jacka** passed me and started slowing down in front of me, riding HIS brakes.... I just came right up to his bumper like I was going to push him, he turned white, sped up a little bit, got into the other lane and slowed way down and left me alone.)

Been thinking about having a bumper sticker made up:
'It's simple. The closer you get, the slower I go.'

Indeed.

Consider a situation where you're going down the road at 45mph with a large SUV 18" from your rear bumper. Should you have to brake suddenly, you're going to lose control of your vehicle (when you get hit). Seems to me that if you're driving in such a manner that you cannot maintain control of your vehicle at all times, YOU'RE driving too fast for conditions. Not that you'd get cited for the wreck in that situation, but still, the only safe and lawful thing to do is to slow down. Shrug. FWIW.

You said there was a bike lane. Signal right, pull into the bike lane, and let the other cars pass. It would be best to avoid these potential road rage situations. Who know, the guys behind you might have lost it and pulled out a gun or something.

Been thinking about having a bumper sticker made up:
'It's simple. The closer you get, the slower I go.'

LOVE IT!!!

There's a rural 2-lane road around here with a 25 mph limit. While riding my motorcycle I actually really enjoy going that slow--I don't think I've ever done more than about 30 on it. On the bike, it's neat to be able to (almost, sometimes) do the speed limit.

Everyone else seems to like hammering down that gas pedal and taking it a good 10-15 miles over though. They usually just pass by in the oncoming lane...Not that it really matters; hardly anyone uses that road anyway.

The thing that gets me are the folks that jackrabbit from a green light to the next red light and then slam on their brakes...

Do they really like paying for all that gas and new brakes? Are they just clueless when it comes to something simple like coasting to a red light? Is there something to be gained by rushing to a stop?

Why do you let other people "get to you" so much?


Because it irritates me as well as genec, that people have no clue about the waste of gasoline and/or energy that the kind of driving he describes causes. I see people racing from the rear to be the first at the red light by drag racin' from one light to the next. The irritation is from their ignorant brains that talk to much on the phone and text messaging and make-up and who knows what else. Their gas bill could be cut drastically by exercising the style of driving that I outlined in another post. It was the thread in foo on ways to increase mileage. I listed 10 or 12 realistic ways to increase mileage.

Yeah, you go! I drive a Lumina van from 94 and play "Grampa" in a brown fedora as well! http://forum.gamestar.de/gspinboard/images/smilies/muhaha.gif



"Play" Grandpa???:D

Why do you let other people "get to you" so much?

Pete why do I apparently "get to you" so much?

How do you know that they have no clue about the waste of gasoline, etc.?

Why do you let your perception that they are ignorant or have no clue bother you so much?

okay, so if they're not ignorant, they're narcissistic, which is worse.

You said there was a bike lane. Signal right, pull into the bike lane, and let the other cars pass. It would be best to avoid these potential road rage situations. Who know, the guys behind you might have lost it and pulled out a gun or something.

You're such a wussy. Don't let what others 'might' do dictate how you live your life.

I'm a big fan of giving tailgaters the brake lights. I've also been known to move left and block if they try to pass unsafely. I don't care if they get themselves hurt doing so, but there is a good chance they will hurt someone else, me included, and allowing that would be irresponsible of me. ;)

I also get annoyed by the people who drive too slowly for the conditions. And there are those who have over-calibrated speedos so they slow down to 40 in a 50 zone then wonder why other drivers get so darn annoyed.

While I was driving home, I came upon one guy next to me smoking a cig and talking on the phone next to me. I just kinda turned up the classical CD I had in the car at the time, blasting Bizet at him. I kept next to him the whole time, and the speakers I have really carry. Needless to say, he had to end that conversation. Then he just proceeded to weave through traffic without using turn signals.

Yeah, I 100% support retesting drivers and taking away licenses.

I also get annoyed by the people who drive too slowly for the conditions. And there are those who have over-calibrated speedos so they slow down to 40 in a 50 zone then wonder why other drivers get so darn annoyed.

I get annoyed by people who get annoyed because they can't drive at or faster than the speed limit. WTF is your hurry? Slow down, relax, take a breath, enjoy the ride and unbunch those panties.

Last time I researched the issue, the signs said speed LIMIT, as in no faster that a specified speed. The signs do not read speed THRESHOLD, as in you must go at least a specified speed. In spite of many drivers' perceptions.

When riding, I deal with the occaisional angry driver honking from behind with a smile and a wave. I act as if the driver is an old friend who is honking because he recognizes me and wants to say "hi." Withing 30 seconds, space in the passing lane has always opened up, and they can pass.

Why do you assume that someone that drives in the way that you described, talks on cell phones, etc. is narcissistic?

You continue to not make much sense at all.

overinflated sense of self importance: check
willful disregard for others: check
need for immediate gratification: check

I've been working on just swallowing my pride and pulling over.

This one time in particular made me realize how dangerous it is to be a jerk. Some guy was tailing me really close in a no-pass, curvy area, so I slowed down to around 10mph in a 50 zone. I had room to pull over, but who cares? I ended up going between 5 and 10 for about a mile before he ended up passing me and throwing something at my car all the while yelling a long string of obscenities. Reflecting on it, I kind of figure if he had any kind of weapon he would have used it.

Me thinks mr. pete is a tailgating jerkweed on a bike, in a boat or a car. dude don't take your hangover out on us.:p

You're such a wussy. Don't let what others 'might' do dictate how you live your life.

No matter how short it becomes as a result. :rolleyes:

No matter how short it becomes as a result. :rolleyes:

With that thinking, it would be kind of hard to staff our armed forces, public safety forces and most hazardous occupations. Good thing other people don't live in fear...and guess what, a whole heck of a lot of us actually survive to boring old retirement! :rolleyes:

I brake for tailgaters. Actually since I drive a Ford Diesel, I downshift and watch them panick trying to avoid me.:)

You don't "get to me" genec.

You make me laugh (at you).

Big difference.

p.s. You failed to answer the question. Why do you let other people get to you so much? If bikeforums could somehow convert all of your whining and fear into electricity the servers would run for decades.

Pete if I didn't "get to you" then why bothering even responding to me?

In that you find my comments apparently so irritating, I also am amused by the way some people seem so clueless in their driving behaviour. If there is no other reason for me to call out their behaviour in question, it is primarily that I have to share the road, in one form or another, with these idiots.

With that thinking, it would be kind of hard to staff our armed forces, public safety forces and most hazardous occupations. Good thing other people don't live in fear...and guess what, a whole heck of a lot of us actually survive to boring old retirement!

I think you're wrong. It sounds to me like the poster knew his limitations. If you don't believe enough in yourself to rise to the challenge of an aggressor, you're probably better off standing down. That's just being smart. It's also possible for a 110lb woman in a Hummer to be a huge threat to a 200lb man in a Prius.....

You know Chipcom, it's very easy to sound tough on a message board, but it's also equally meaningless. :rolleyes:

I think you're wrong. It sounds to me like the poster knew his limitations. If you don't believe enough in yourself to rise to the challenge of an aggressor, you're probably better off standing down. That's just being smart. It's also possible for a 110lb woman in a Hummer to be a huge threat to a 200lb man in a Prius.....

You know Chipcom, it's very easy to sound tough on a message board, but it's also equally meaningless. :rolleyes:

While I agree with your first point, I can't believe you would even question the ferocity of Chipcom Man. (against evil doers only of course)

You must be new around here, don't let that pretty face fool ya. :p

My wife tells me I am way mellow when I drive, but I do hate tailgaters and have done the slam on the brakes thing to just flash the brakelights. None of which really does any good except to piss people off, and that aint necessarilly bad. :)
In my old feeble age I generally let more go by than before, but tailgaters still get to me and I'll slow down in front of them. I did this on a freeway with minimum traffic and they did not have time to pass, they just had to slow down until they had control of their car again. Oh well.
Steven

By the way guys, lighten up. ;)

Buy a beat up manual transmission car. Next time a tailgater strikes, dump it quickly down into 2nd gear. Brace for impact first, of course.

I am going to be the lone voice of reason. If the speed limit is 40, drive at 40. Yesterday, I had someone going 37 on a road. I tried to pass them when there was a two lane at a traffic light. The jerk sped up to 55 mph. I passed him on the shoulder and then took control of the situation, just like he wanted to control the long line of traffic behind him. I drove and additional 3 mph slower. That means I was driving 33 mph in a 40 mph traffic lane. He was riding my ass. I think that people that make the decision to go below the speed limit have control issues they need to deal with. It was okay for him to drive 3 mph under the speed limit, but 6 mph under the speed got him pissed, just like 3 mph under the speed limit had the rest of us driver's pissed.

Buy a beat up manual transmission car. Next time a tailgater strikes, dump it quickly down into 2nd gear. Brace for impact first, of course.

Using the handbrake works too. :)